Dual compartment mailing piece



1964 s. B. HUBBARD 3,158,313

mum; COMPARTMENT MAILING PIECE Filed Nov. 1, 1962 FIG. I

I J I7 I 27\ FIG. 3 QU 'F 7TH' LI SAMUEL B. HUBBARD INVENTOR.

BY" -MW ATTORNEY 3,158,313 DUAL CUMPARTMENT MAETNG PIECE Samuel B.Hubbard, 3025 Taylor St, Dallas, Tex. Filed Nov. 1, 1962, Ser. No.234,636 7 Claims. (Cl. 2'2971) This invention relates to a dualcompartment envelope system and, more particularly, to a constructionwhich facilitates the insertion of a communication such as ad: vertisingmatter and of an address element, respectively, into separate pockets. 7

In the handling of mailing pieces Where materials are inserted into anenvelope, the expeditious treatment thereof is desirable in view of thecost in multiple operations on a given piece. Where large volumes ofmaterial are involved, relatively minor changes in procedure oftenresult in considerable savings. The present invention is directedprimarily to an envelope construction wherein the envelope will receivein a first compartment a mailing piece of one character and in anothercompartment a mailing piece of a character including addressinformation. The second compartment is characterized by a window throughwhich the address on the second piece can be observed. Thus there isavoided the necessity of placing an address on the envelope itself. Theinvention is particularly directed toward the provision of a systemwhich will minimize the amount of paper necessary to accomplish theobjectives and at the same time permit the readyand convenient insertionof the address element and, further, will assure the retention in apositive sense of the address element as well as the first mailingpiece.

More particularly, in accordance with the present invention there isprovided an envelope for mailing two pieces, one of which is an addressinsert. The envelope comprises structure forming a main pocket having aclosure flap at the open end thereof. One side of the main pocket isformed by a pair of oppositely folded flaps, one of which is of Widthcorresponding to the width of the address insert and which overlies theother of the two flaps. One of the fiaps is adhesively secured to theother from the bottom of the pocket to a point spaced from the mouth ofthe pocket a distance equal to the length of the address insert. AWindow in the first flap is provided for viewing the inserttherethrough. A closure flap for the envelope is adapted to beadhesively secured to both of the side flaps adjacent the mouth thereofto provite retention for the address insert.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and forfurther objects and advantages thereof, reference may now be had to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a blank shaped and treated for forming the envelope of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a credit card on which an address is present; and

FIGURE 3 is a view of the completed envelope with a credit card insertedin its secondary pocket.

Referring now to the drawings, a blank 1G is illustrated in FIGURE 1which is provided for forming an envelope having a principal or mainpocket into which an advertising piece or catalog or the like can beinserted. Also to be formed is a second pocket into which a credit cardcan be inserted. For example, an address card 11 is shown in FIGURE 2having an address box 12 on which identification of the party isprovided. The card 11 may be provided with embossed numerals or otheridentifying medium so that it can be used in the conventional creditcard sense.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for the delivery bythe envelope formed from the blank 10 $358,313 Patented Nov. 24,-l64

ice

of a catalog or other mailing piece and the credit card 11 and at thesame time to utilize the credit card as the address information for theenvelope.

More particularly, the blank 10 of FIGURE 1 is provided with a backpanel 15 and two side panels 17 and 19. Panel 17is foldably secured topanel 15 at the left edge of panel 15 while the flap i9 is foldablysecured to the right-hand edge of the panel 15. A bottom closure flap 21extends along the bottom of the panel 15. A top closure flap 23 extendsalong the upper edge of the panel 15. The panel 19 is provided with aWindow 25 adjacent the upper margin thereof andadjacent to the commonjuncture with panel 15. A zone on the panel 19 designated by thereference character 27 is provided to receive a suitable adhesive.Adhesive is provided also on the surface of the bottom closure fiapZland on the upper portion of the top closure flap 23.

The flap 17 is of width less than the width of the panel 15. The flapIt? is of width corresponding with the width of the credit card 11. Thedistance from the upper end 29 of the flap 19 to the upper margin of theadhesivecoated section 27 is equal to the length of the credit card 11.

In FIGURE 3, the envelope is shown in completed form With'flap 1'7 firstbeing folded to overlie the panel 15. Flap 1% is then folded to overliethe flap 17 to the extent indicated by the hatched section 27. The flap21 is then folded upwardly to overlie the lower margins of flaps 17 and19. When the adhesive is bonded to overlaid portions, the envelope iscompleted in its formation with the side flaps 17 and 1) being securedto one another in the region indicated by the hatched section 27.

It will be noted that the hatched section 27 terminates at a pointspaced from the top margin 26 so that the credit card 11 can be insertedinto the secondary pocket by movement in the direction of arrow 31. Thewindow 25 is spaced from the margin of the panel 19 the same distance asthe address panel 12 on the credit card 11 is spaced from the bottomedge of the credit card 11. Thus the credit card is inserted into thesecondary pocket with the address 12 being clearly visible in the window25.

A catalog or other material may be inserted into the main hesive zone 23intimately is secured to portions of the flap 17 as well as 19immediately adjacent the margin of the flap 19, the credit card 11 willbe maintained in a fixed position in the slot provided therefor. Theflap 23 is provided with a cut-out section 33 which conforms with theconfiguration of the window 25 so that it will not obstruct or. impairthe view of the address portion 12 of the card'll.

It has been found that the use of such an envelope greatly enhances thefacility with which it may be loaded with the two mailing elements.Furthermore, it can be formed with substantially less paper than priorsystems since the flap 17 can be considerably less in width than thepanel 15. The adhesive zone 27 on flap 29 has been shown to be ofsubstantial width. The area actually covered by adhesive may be variedsomewhat from that illustrated. The width of the panel 17 can be lessthan the width of panel 15 by the amount represented by the portion ofthe width of flap 29 that is not covered by adhesive. In FIGURE 1 thisis represented by that portion 35.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides adual envelope having a pocket formed by a unitary side panel and asecond side panel which has a longitudinal lap joint. The lap joint isof an adherent nature from the envelope bottom to a point a firstpredetermined distance from the top and over a second predetermineddistance from the sides of the pocket. A window is provided through thesecond side panel adjacent the top and adjacent to the lapped zone. Atop closure flap is provided for adhesively engaging the second sidepanel adjacent to the top on both sides of the lap joint and in the areawhere the lap joint is nonadhesive. The main envelope pocket may thenreceive a large mailing piece. A secondary pocket in the region of thewindow will receive a second mailing piece including an address elementwhich is retained in position upon closure and sealing of the topclosure flap.

Having described the invention in connection with a certain specificembodiment thereof, it is to be understood that modifications may nowsuggest themselves to those skilled in the art and it is intended tocover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dual envelope having a pocket formed by a unitary side panel and asecond side panel having a longitudinal lap joint which is adherent fromthe envelope bottom to a point spaced a first predetermined distancefrom the top along a lap margin zone a second predetermined distancefrom the sides of said pocket, with a Window through said second sidepanel adjacent to said top and to said margin zone, and a top closureflap for adhesively engaging said second side panel adjacent said top onboth sides of said lap joint.

2. A dual envelope having a pocket formed by a unitary side panel and asecond side panel having a longitudinal lap joint which is adherent fromthe envelope bottom to a point spaced a first predetermined distancefrom the top along a lap margin zone .a second predetermined distancefrom the sides of said pocket, with a Window through said second sidepanel adjacent to said top and to said margin zone, and a top closureflap secured to said unitary panel and having an adhesive zone engagingsaid second side panel adjacent said top on both sides of said lapjoint.

3. An envelope for two mailing pieces one of which is an address insertwhich comprises a main pocket having an opening at the top with aclosure flap therefor with one side panel formed from oppositely foldedside flaps one of which overlaps the other and extends a distance fromthe edge of said envelope substantially equal to one dimension of saidinsert and which flap adheres to the other flap from the bottom of saidpocket to a point spaced from the top a distance substantially equal tothe other dimension of said insert thereby to form a secondary pocket atsaid top, said one of said flaps being provided with a window therein inthe region between said point and said top and below the area of saidone side panel covered by said closure flap.

4. An envelope for two mailing pieces one of which is an address insertwhich comprises a main pocket having an opening at the top with aclosure flap therefor with one side panel formed from oppositely foldedside flaps one of which overlaps the other and extends a distance fromthe edge of said envelope substantially equal to one dimension of saidinsert and which flap adheres to the other flap over a limited fractionof its width from the bottom of said pocket to a point spaced from 4-the top a distance substantially equal to a second dimension of saidinsert thereby to form a secondary pocket at said top, said one of saidflaps being provided with a window therein in the region between saidpoint and said top and below the area of said one side panel covered bysaid closure flap.

5. An envelope for two mailing pieces one of which is an address insertwhich comprises a main pocket having an opening at the top with aclosure flap therefor with one side panel formed from oppositely foldedside flaps one of which overlaps the other and extends a distance fromthe edge of said envelope substantially equal to one dimension of saidinsert and which flap adheres to the other flap from the bottom of saidpocket to a point spaced from the top a distance substantially equal toa second dimension of said insert therebyto form a secondary pocket atsaid top, said one of said flaps being provided with a window therein inthe region between said point and said top with said closure flaprelieved to conform with the margin of said Window.

6. A11 envelope for mailing two pieces, one of which is an addressinsert, which comprises means including a pair of oppositely-folded sideflaps forming a main pocket with a closure flap for the top of said mainpocket, the first of said flaps being of width corresponding to thewidth of said insert and partially overlying the second of said flapsand adhesively secured thereto from the bottom oflsaid main pocket to apoint spaced from said top a distance equal to the length of said insertto form a second pocket open at said top and on one side to receive saidinsert, said first of said flaps having a window for viewing said inserttherethrough, said closure flap having adhesive to engage both of saidflaps adjacent to said top.

7. A blank for a dual envelope which comprises a sheet having (a) arectangular body panel,

(11) a bottom closure flap foldable along the bottom of said panel,

(0) a top closure flap foldable along the top of said panel,

(d) a pair of panel-forming side flaps foldably secured-to oppositesides of said body panel, one of said flaps having a window thereinadjacent to the top of said panel and adapted when folded to over liethe other flap and to be adhesively secured thereto in a zone limited tothe area from the bottom to a point adjacent to the end of said windowopposite said top, and

(e) adhesive means for bonding said top closure flap to both said sideflaps to close two pockets in said envelope.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,545,653 Hogan July 14, 1925 1,895,484 Overly Ian. 31, 1933 1,895,485Overly Jan. 31, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 593,191 Canada Feb. 23, 1960.

3. AN ENVELOPE FOR TWO MAILING PIECES ONE OF WHICH IS AN ADDRESS INSERTWHICH COMPRISES A MAIN POCKET HAVING AN OPENING AT THE TOP WITH ACLOSURE FLAP THEREFOR WITH ONE SIDE PANEL FORMED FROM OPPOSITELY FOLDEDSIDE FLAPS ONE OF WHICH OVERLAPS THE OTHER AND EXTENDS A DISTANCE FROMTHE EDGE OF SAID ENVELOPE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO ONE DIMENSION OF SAIDINSERT AND WHICH FLAP ADHERES TO THE OTHER FLAP FROM THE BOTTOM OF SAIDPOCKET TO A POINT SPACED FROM THE TOP A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TOTHE OTHER DIMENSION OF SAID INSERT THEREBY TO FORM A SECONDARY POCKET ATSAID TOP, SAID ONE OF SAID FLAPS BEING PROVIDED WITH A WINDOW THEREIN INTHE REGION BETWEEN SAID POINT AND SAID TOP AND BELOW THE AREA OF SAIDONE SIDE PANEL COVERED BY SAID CLOSURE FLAP.